where to buy cheap 26" commuter wheels
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Virginia/DC
Bikes: quite a few
where to buy cheap 26" commuter wheels?
I'm having a little trouble finding cheap 26" disc compatible wheels for my MTB commuter.
I currently have two sets of tires, 1.25 slicks and ~1.95 knobbies. I may get some studded tires as well but they would be no wider than 2.0.
My current stock wheels are X-RIMS (Alex brand) ERTRO 559-20 and not disc compatible. I'm planning to put at least a front disc brake on (Avid BB7 seems to be the best value point), so I need a least a new front wheel.
Online vendors seem to carry very few 26" wheels at lower price points, and generally the available 26" wheels are wider rims (25mm or 28mm) and made for mountain biking. Actually it seems difficult to even get specs on rim widths for 26" wheels on a lot of websites.
Any suggestions? I'm not heavy (140lbs) and I don't really bomb around.
I currently have two sets of tires, 1.25 slicks and ~1.95 knobbies. I may get some studded tires as well but they would be no wider than 2.0.
My current stock wheels are X-RIMS (Alex brand) ERTRO 559-20 and not disc compatible. I'm planning to put at least a front disc brake on (Avid BB7 seems to be the best value point), so I need a least a new front wheel.
Online vendors seem to carry very few 26" wheels at lower price points, and generally the available 26" wheels are wider rims (25mm or 28mm) and made for mountain biking. Actually it seems difficult to even get specs on rim widths for 26" wheels on a lot of websites.
Any suggestions? I'm not heavy (140lbs) and I don't really bomb around.
#2
The Rock Cycle


Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 17
From: Western Colorado
Bikes: Salsa Vaya Ti, Specialized Ruby, Gunnar Sport, Motobecane Fantom CXX, Jamis Dragon, Novara Randonee x2
Nashbar? I got some Vuelta Zerolite rim brake wheels for under $100 for the set. Not sure if they offer something similar for disc.
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7#ReviewHeader
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...7#ReviewHeader
__________________
Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
#3
Might try REI or Performance.
https://www.rei.com/product/813585/ma...sc-front-wheel
https://www.rei.com/product/813585/ma...sc-front-wheel
https://www.rei.com/product/813585/ma...sc-front-wheel
https://www.rei.com/product/813585/ma...sc-front-wheel
#4
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,454
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From: Virginia/DC
Bikes: quite a few
Thanks. Looking around more it seems Niagara has lots of options, although not that much info on them and they seem quite generic
https://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?cPath=404_135_197
Nashbar has a $30 front disc MTB wheel (just went up $5, used to be $25) but not much info on the width.
I think I'm going to go with a standard wider MTB rim wheelset that is disc + rim brake compatible since the point of using the 26" MTB is for worst weather conditions anyway. I found a Deore/Sun Rhyno Lite set on jenson for <$100
My 1.95 tires probably shouldn't be on my 20mm rims to begin with (even though that was the stock setup). This way I can switch out my existing front wheel as either a 1.25 using rim brakes, or the fatter tire with disc brakes once I fit those. The rear I'll just keep as is, and change the tire as I need to. The current rear wheel has a freewheel so the drivetrain is probably not compatible with any new rear wheel I buy. The new rear wheel I can keep around until I feel like upgrading more (new cassette, and possibly rear disc brake).
https://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?cPath=404_135_197
Nashbar has a $30 front disc MTB wheel (just went up $5, used to be $25) but not much info on the width.
I think I'm going to go with a standard wider MTB rim wheelset that is disc + rim brake compatible since the point of using the 26" MTB is for worst weather conditions anyway. I found a Deore/Sun Rhyno Lite set on jenson for <$100
My 1.95 tires probably shouldn't be on my 20mm rims to begin with (even though that was the stock setup). This way I can switch out my existing front wheel as either a 1.25 using rim brakes, or the fatter tire with disc brakes once I fit those. The rear I'll just keep as is, and change the tire as I need to. The current rear wheel has a freewheel so the drivetrain is probably not compatible with any new rear wheel I buy. The new rear wheel I can keep around until I feel like upgrading more (new cassette, and possibly rear disc brake).
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: BiknBrian brand custom 26 inch commuter trekker, Cannondale F600 Single Speeded MTB, Nashbar Cro-Mo CX, some other bikes and parts that could be made into bikes.
I've found some good deals at https://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com/
#7
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Silver Spring, MD
Bikes: Bike Friday Tikit
I am in College Park, I have two 26" wheels if you want them. Free.99. PM if you want them.
Oops. You wanted Disc compatible.... have no clue what that means. and the wheels probably aren't... but you're welcome to have em anyway
Oops. You wanted Disc compatible.... have no clue what that means. and the wheels probably aren't... but you're welcome to have em anyway
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